Kansas City Pothole Patching Methods
Potholes are an inevitable problem with asphalt, but they're also problem that is very important to have repaired. Potholes are a form of of disintegration of pavement that can be caused by poorly compacted material, raveling, cracking, base failure, or simply the aging of the pavement. They frequently appear after rainstorms or during thaw periods, which can weaken pavement.
The most common causes of pothole formation include:
- Raveling, stripping, or cracking of the pavement surface.
- Moisture intrusion, which weakens the underlying pavement layers.
- Ice formation.
- Heavy traffic.
Depending on what caused your pothole to form or how large the pothole is, our professional Kansas City asphalt experts will employ one of three different methods to patch the pothole. All of the professionals at Gorman Sealcoating & Striping are licensed, trained, and experienced, and we'll always be able to guarantee your satisfaction with the work that we provide.
Throw and Roll
The throw-and-roll method is most frequently used to temporary patched. When weather conditions don't allow a semi-permanent patch to be applied to the pothole, or if the asphalt is going to be rehabilitated in the near future, this low-labor method can be a great option for patching a pothole. Our Kansas City asphalt experts use these steps for the throw-and-roll method:
- Patching material is placed in the hole, either with or without cleaning and drying of the hole.
- We use professional equipment to compact the material.
- The finished patch should about a 1/4 inch crown to prevent water from pooling.
Semi-Permanent Patching
Semi-permanent pothole patching is the most effective method aside from completely removing and replacing the failed area of asphalt. The steps in this process are as follows:
- Mark the boundaries of the distressed area, taking care to encompass a slightly larger area than that reflected by the distress. The repair boundaries should be as rectangular as possible and take into consideration the dimensions of the equipment that will be used for removal of the old material and compaction of the new material.
- Use a diamond saw or pneumatic hammer to to cut the boundaries of the patch square.
- Remove water and debris from the hole and apply a tack coat of asphalt emulsion to the sides and bottom of the hole.
- Place the patch material in the hole, taking care to avoid segregation.
- Compact the material and seal the edges.
Injection Patching
Our Kansas City asphalt contractors can also use specialized equipment to perform injection patching, which is a quick and effective methods. This method is used for low-volume traffic roads and is a good alternative to the throw-and-roll method. These patches are still temporary, but they have a longer lifespan than throw-and-roll patches.
